Harvesting-machine.



"1. w1. WATCH.

HARVESTING MACHiNC. APPLICATHJN FlLED v)UNE 13. 19H3. l

l Patented Jan. 0, 1911.

3 SHEETS-SHEET JOHN M. VEATCH, F ALCO, KANSAS.

lHARVEISJTING-MACHINE. i

Specification. of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 30, 1917.

Application led June 13, 1918. Serial No. 103,458.

To all whomz't may coment:

Be it known that I, J onN M. Vna'rcn, a citizen of the UnitedStates, and` a resident of Palco, in the county of Elhs and State of Kansas, have invented an Improvement in Harvesting-Machines, of which the following is a specification. u

This invention is an improvement in agricultural machines, and has particular reference to header attachments for tractors.

. An object of the .invention is the provision of novel means for adjusting the header, and

cutter barscarried thereby, to the desired position when harvesting wheat, and the like, of different heightsand when passing over `uneven ground and, to this end, the invention includes a fraine pivotallyconnected to some convenient part of the tractor and to vthe header, said frame supporting" connection with said header and being verti-l j cally adjustable whereby the cutter bars and platform lowered. I Y

The inventive idea involved is capable of receiving a variety of mechanical expressions, one' of which, for the purpose of illustrating the inventlon, is shown in the accompanying drawings in which- Figure l' is a top plan view of a tractor having a header attachment, the invention being .shown in Vconnection therewith. .Fig n A2 isa side elevation. Fig. 3 is an enlarged `fragmentary top plan view of the mechas nism for driving certain parts of the header attachment. Fig. 4 is a similanview of a portion of the mechanism for driving another part of `the header attachment. Fig. 5 is a section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1.

Referring more particularly to the accompanyingdrawings, the numeral 10 indicates a tractor machine of any preferred `construct-ion with which is associated a header attachment of common construction 45 including a platform 11, the usual reciproeating cutter bar 12, conveyer 13 androtaty ing reel 14, and to one end of the platform jfll'the same has pivoted the usual inclined elevator 15 provided with upper.and lower `I0 conveyers 16 and 16" and means 17 ,for

raising andlowering said elevator. The means for supporting and adjusting theheader attachment comprise the essential features of the invention and there is 55 shown inthe accompanying drawings what ,of the header may be raised and' of, in whicha frame is employed consisting of side beams 18 pivoted to some portion of the tractor 10 and preferably the rear axle thereof as indicated at lJ. 'ihe side beams 18 are similar in construction and are arranged alongsideV of the tractor with the beani 18 farthest from the elevator l5 at a greater. distance from thc sider of the tractor than thc'bcam 1.8 nearest said elevator in order that the weight of the elevator' on that side of thev machine, which would have a. tendency to over-balance the same, will be comj'icnsated for.

The side beams 18 normally extend in.

a downwardly inclined direction and kat their lowermost ends each has` pivoted thereto the rear end of a platform supporting vine mbcr j 20 `the forward end of wliich'is secured to the platform 11 in `any preferred manner. Means are provided in connection withthe beams 18 for initially elevating the members 20 and consist of a. vertically adjustable clement 21 in the form of a rod associated with cach of the beams 18 and having its lower end secured thereto. T he upper end ofthe rod is screw-threaded and projects throughy the adjacent endof an arm 22 mounted upon and extending transversely of the platform of the tractor. Each rod has mounted upon its upperfend a rotatable handle 23 which, when opera raises the rod 21 so that the forward end of theI beam 18 and the members 20 :are elevated.

, It may become desirable to elevate pr lower the forward ends of the supporting members 20 "and consequently the cutter barsw12 and to this end eachV of said supporting members carries a rearwardly and upwardly inclined arm 24 having one end of a coil spring 25 connected thereto', adjacent its upper end, the other -end of said spring being secured to a yoke 26 pivoted to the adjacent beam 18 contiguous to the `forward end thereof, saidspring normally having a tendency to draw the' vupper end f r ofthe arm 24 downwardly and thus raise the forward end of the supportingmeinber 20.k The upper end of each arm 24 has connected thereto one end of anfadjustable rod 27 the other end of which is secured :xt 29 to the beam 18, the other arm of said vlever,havin'gone end of an 'adjustableq'od 30 pivoted thereto, the other end of said` rod 30 being. connected to an operating 1ever 31 operable from the cab of the tractor. Through this construction it will be lseen that when the lever 31 is shifted forwardly the parts just described will be operated to raise the upper ends of the arms 24 and thus swing the members about their Vpivots whereupon the forward end of the latform 11 and tlie cutter bars 12 will be owered to the desired position'.

The means, operated `by the source of power 32 of the tractor, for driving the different parts associated with the platform 11 and elevator 15 are preferably supported by .the side beams 18 andV consist of a main driving shaft- 33, joiirnaledin said side beams intermediate the endsjthereofand having mounted thereon agear Wheel 34 which is rotated by a chain 35,.. passing over ya similar gear 36 operated .by said source the chain 35A whereby laterally of power 32. A tension device of any preferred construction is associatedwith therein when the side beams 18 are elevated. A clutch construction 37 is' associated with vhe `means for operating. the shaft 33 whereby the actu-ation thereof is controlled. A substantially U-shaped frame 38 projects from the'side beam 18 adjacent the elevatorv 15- and'has supported therein a bevel gear 39 with which meshes a 'pinion L40 carried bythe adjacent end of the shaft 33. Mounted upon the same stub shaft with a gear 51 over which passes the conveyer 13, the

operatedby the rotation'of said 49, 49 and 50.

the gear 39v is a gear wheel 41 meshing -witha gea'i` 42 which in turn drives another ear 43. The gear 42 is connected, throug a universal or knuckle ljoint-44 with one end of a cutter bar operatin shaft 45 the other end of which 1s attac ed to a shaft 46- by a universal or knuckle joint 47, the forward end of the shaft 46 having a crank -48 for reciprocating cutter bars 11. The lower" elevator conveyer 16 is also driven over the shaft 46.5'` The rear end of the shaft 46 is provided with a gear -49 meshing Awith a pinion 49 which drives carried by the rear end of a shaft same being shaft 51. If desired, a chain or belt drive may be employed' instead of the gearing The upper conveyer 15 is operated. in a manner similar to that just described and for this purpose there is provided a shaft 52 haying at its rear end la universal joint 53 connected to the outer 'shaft on which is mounted the gearl 43. The forward end of shaft 52 is also provided with a universal joint 54 connected to the rear end of the shaft 55 ar.-

ranged in parallel relation to the shaft 51 -and z`having mounted-thereon the said con- 'vever 16.

e invention also embodies' means for operating the reel` 14 'and by referring to totake up the slack l 16 of the elevator Fig. 5 it will be seen that said means 1ncludes a plate 56 havinga's'tub shaft 57 extendin therefrom in a'line with the rear axle of t e tractor, the rear ends .of beams 18 bein also mounted on said stub shaft. A beve gear 58 is'mounted: u pon the stub. shaft 57 and meshes with a pinion 59 con- Ynected to the rear end of a shaft 60 by means of a universal joint 61. Preferably, the'fo'rward end of the shaft60 is squared as indicated at 62, in Fig. 4, and moun in a coupling 63 forming a part of a universal joint 64 whichcarries a pinion 65 m'ountedin a yoke 66 supported on the shaft 67y o f the reel.. 14, said pinion 65 driving -a bevel gear`f68 whereby said reel is rotated.

The forward ends of the shafts;

45.and 52 are also preferably squared to` provide an ad'ustable joint to rmit of the adwstment o the head attac ent.

hat is claimed is:

1. In a harvesting machine, the, combination of a tractor, a headerl attachment'inV cluding a latform and platform supporting means, a rame including side membersA pivoted at their rear ends to said tractor, and pivotally connected at. their forward ends with said platform supportingmeans, vertically adjustable elements carried by'said tractorA and'engaging said side membersintermediate their ends forraising and lower ing the same to'raise orlower said header attachment, upwardly and rearwardly ex'- tending arms carried by said platform supv. porting means, sprlng connections between said arms andthe side members of said frame, and means carried by the tractor and having a Apivotal connection with" said side members and Isecuredto said armsfor ad- `usting the same to raise and lower thev said eader vattachment including the cutter bar thereof.

2. Ina-harvestin machine, the combination of a tractor, 'a eader attachment, plat-- fo'rm supporting members for the header attachment, a frame having side members pivoted to said tractor and pivotally connected with said supporting members for supportfing the latterand said header attachment,

vertically adjustable elements carried by said tractor and` engagingA said frame for raising and lowering said supporting members and theheader attachment, arms extending from saidfplatforrn supportin members, .resilient means connecting sai arms and said side members of the frame and normally tending t o raise the forward ends of ythe: supporting members and the headerL attachment and means havin a connection ywith," said framev and secur to said arms fbr adjusting the latter a ainst the tension of said resilient means to ower the forward portionipf said ,supporting members and the headerattachment includg the cutter bar thereof. l .I

flauw l 3. In a harvesting machine, the combina;

tionI of a tractor, a-header attachment in an elevator, a conveyer cluding a platform,

a. cutterliar mounted associated with each,

above said platform,

the header' at- I'tachment also incllidng rearwardly'extendo tally Y l'the platform supporting members for supporting pivoted members being adjustable fto raise.

attachment, mea-ns for n members pivotally connected to said tractor and pivconnected at their forward ends with ing platform sipporting members,

said header attachment, the said and lower the header raising and lowering the header attachment independentl of the movement of the said ivoted mem ers, a U-shaped ,frame extending laterally from one of pivoted members, a train of ears mounted 1n said frame,

shafts having t ien rear ends supported in said frame and connected to said gears for operating the conveyers 'and cutter bazr, a

main driving shaft journalfd in said pivoted members and operated by the motive power of said tractor for drivg Said ShaftS, and another shaft connected to one of the axles of the tractorV and tothel reel forrotating the latter. I

'L1- In a harvesting machine, 4the combination of a tractor, a header attachment, beams pivoted to said tractor, latform. sup

porting means secured to vsaid header at-` and a. ree'lalso asso-` ment independent side i mamen, and .pimms to aid adattate;

' means for 'a'd'nsting said side beams to ac- .tuate said p atform sey raise oflowe'r said hea A, means for raising 'and lowering the platform porting means -to r attachment, and

and the header attachof the movement of said side beams, the said means including bellcrank levers pivoted on.. the'side beams, rods supporting means (connecting, one end ofthe bell-crank levers with members of the lplatform supporting means, and an operating lever connected with the other ends of said bell crank levers.'

5. In a harvesting machine, the combinasaidjt'ractor, and pivotally connected at their forward ends with 4said attachment, means carried byl said tractor for adjusting said side beams 'to raise or tion of a. tractor, a header, attachment, sideV `beams pivoted to lower the said attachment, bellcrank levers pivoted on the side beams, an operating lever connected with the 'bell-crank levers, means connecting lthebell-crank leversfwth the header attachment, t0 4inclependen-tly adjust the latter, .and .Ineens operated try-#the motive power of the tractor, for driving-the parte of thefheader. t JOHN M. VEATCH.

Witnesses: Y i l J. 'W. CHAS. WILLIAMS, 

